Qinghai Province is the fourth largest province in China, with a land area around 720,000 sq. km. It encompasses snow-capped mountains, arid deserts, vast grasslands and numerous wetlands. With fewer than 6 million people, the province still exhibits great cultural diversity. Crop farming is practiced in the northeast, but across most of the extraordinary landscape it is animal husbandry (pastoralism) which is most widely practiced.

According to The International Ecotourism Society, ecotourism is simply defined as responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.

For the benefit of local communities and to conserve regional biodiversity, it is time now to restore the original intent and meaning of ecotourism. This site aims to assist in achieving this important goal.

Learn more about responsible and sustainable tourism, community ecotourism, cultural tourism, nature tourism, adventure tourism, etc. Many links and printable resources are already available online. More information about Qinghai Province, China, and the Tibetan Plateau region can also be found through the Resources page.

Be responsible -- and choose a tour operator committed to excellence, with responsible ethics and clear accountability, through which your travels help to promote sustainable development and environmental conservation in the region. Most importantly, please choose a tour operator that works in genuine and close partnership with local people and communities, and in this and other ways support community ventures by selecting their products.